Another misinformed Railroad Commission candidate?

Earlier this week, PoliTex reported that Texas Railroad Commission candidate Art Hall was campaigning on an issue that has absolutely nothing to do with the Texas Railroad Commission. The 37-year-old Democrat had raised “railroad safety” as an issue on his website. But the commission gave up its last bit of authority over railroads in 2005.
Hall has since changed the erroneous posting.
However, another Democratic candidate, Mark Thompson, tells PoliTex that the Texas Railroad Commission has no control over home heating rates charged inside cities. “When you think about it, they don’t control rates in the cities,” said Thompson, 48, a resident of Hamilton.
Oh really?
Although cities have so-called "original jurisdiction” over cost-of-service gas rates charged within their boundaries, utilities like Atmos can appeal city decisions to the Texas Railroad Commission. The Railroad Commission conducts hearings, considers evidence and then makes rulings.
"If a city and a utility cannot come to an agreement over the rate, then the utility may choose to appeal to the RRC," said commission spokeswoman Ramona Nye.
Railroad Commission rulings can get appealed to the courts. Nonetheless, the agency's control over cost-of-service gas rates — both inside city boundaries, and outside them — must be considered one of its major areas of authority.

-- R.A. Dyer

Comments

[Wes]

What is with these guys? Read the job description before applying! Geez.